Sasori_Te

I have one or two of these about myself. #1 I was about 2 years into my training. My Sensei and I used to stretch together after class. I was lying flat on my back and he was pushing my right leg in a scissor type stretch. I was pretty limber then so he was sort of close to me. I proceeded to accidentally trumpet this huge fart all over the poor guy. He was none too happy about it. #2 I was just getting back into my training with the same guy mentioned above. I decided to wear my old heavy weight gi to class to be a bit nostalgic. We were stretching before class. I bent over to grab my ankles to pull my head to my knees and the seam on the butt of my gi pants gave way with a LOUD tearing sound. So there I was with my butt hanging out in class with everyone laughing at me.

I also found this link. This "10th Dan" isn't authorized by Shoto Tanemura to teach Genbukan Ninpo Techniques. Here's the link where you can check it out. http://www.genbukan.org/Amatsu_Tatara_Martial_Art_and_/Dojo_Locator/dojo_locator.html

As long as it takes to learn, have at least a limited understanding and apply the techniques properly.

Karate techniques are just as effective from the ground as they are standing. You just need to practice doing them from the ground. Obviously I'm not referring to all standing techniques. Use some common sense.

Backing away from an attack that is already coming is nearly impossible. Slipping the attack to the sides is much better. If you have to back away because the instructor told you to, make sure that you are doing the block correctly. Explain the technique that you're have problems with a little more specifically and it will be easier for others to help you.

Try searching on Ta Mo or Da Mo. Here's a link that I found http://www.shao-lin.com/item.cfm?ItemsID=159. Da Mo was the one of the main driving forces of Zen Bhuddism in China and also, supposedly the founder of the Shaolin style of martial arts. Good luck on your search.

It depends on whether you are talking about a sweep or a reaping throw such as O-soto Gari. Many folks get these throws and sweeps mixed up. It also depends on the level of the practitioner

Quiet Dragon Can I ask you a question? What is the rank of your instructor? It's not because of anything you said. I'm just curious.

Several good points made. You need to know what the disability is. You need to know the persons limits, you need to get a release from the doctor to cover yourself a bit and you make accomodations for the person. Martial arts isn't just for super healthy 20 year olds. I had a teen girl with Cystic Fibrosis that had a feeding tube implanted directly into her stomach. I had a little boy with lung problems with a breathing tube permanently attached to his throat. I think they made me a much better instructor.

1st dan ....10th dan...whatever. I've seen Hatsumi on a few documentaries and he seems fairly legit. However, like Shorinryusensei mentioned, I also downloaded the bo video and this 10th dans technique was mediocre at best. Be careful!!! As I recall from one of the documentaries, Hatsumi's top student in line to take over the style is Scottish and only a 7th dan. I find this a bit strange too.

I retract my previous comment. That show wasn't even worth the effort of a derogatory comment.

pmh1nic finally mentioned the core of the matter. If you talk about fighting, the first thing I think of is no rules what-so-ever. Bite, gouge, throat strikes, pick up a chair, stab, shoot. Whatever is necessary. Most of you guys are still talking about fighting in a ring of some type with rules. That's not how I read the initial question. The gung fu masters were totally out of their element in a Thai fight. Fighting with unfamiliar rules. I'm also assuming that they weren't trying to kill one another. If not, then you're trying to compare apples and oranges equally and you can't do that. Every style has strengths and weaknesses just as every person has the same. If you like the style you do and can make it work for you then run with it. Enjoy. There's never going to be a style that you can say with authority is 100% effective. As long as people are people any fighter is capable of beating any other fighter on a given day.

Let's look at it this way: logic would say that (bad teacher/ bad style =0) If a = good teacher and b = good style the (a x 0 = 0) and (b x 0 = 0) Anything times 0 is 0 or any positive times a negative is a negative. You need a little good in both to have solid training.

Call it a matter of semantics. If you train in a karate style and you use kicks and punches effectively (or not), it's karate. If you use kicks and punches effectively but have not that good an idea why, other than you know it works, then you are a street fighter. In a real situation effective technique, whether from karate training or experience, is what's important.

Shorinryu Sensei is correct. Shotokan was founded by Funakoshi Gichin, but Funakoshi changed the Shorin Ryu techniques he was trained in to be used in the school system on mainland Japan. You could say he watered the techniques ( I do. ) Anyway Shotokan was designed to be the forerunner of today's sport karate. Goju Ryu like Shorin Ryu was founded from one of the 3 main offshoots of Okinawa Te. From Okinawa Te you got; Shuri Te, Naha Te and Tomari Te ( although Tomari Te was not as well known as the previous two). Shorin Ryu is from the Shuri Te lineage. Goju Ryu is from the Naha Te lineage. Shuri Te is more powerful and hard technique. Goju Ryu is more soft and flowing technique as Naha Te reflected more of the Chinese influence than Shuri Te. Goju Ryu, however, is more than adequate for your self defense needs. First and foremost you have to understand what the techniques you know can and were supposed to be actually used for. We've lost sight of a great deal of this information in the West. I hope this helps everyone with questions.

Shureido is my choice. I've had mine for over 2 years out of the 14 I've been training and it's still soft and the same size as when I bought it. I paid $189.00 American for it, but it was worth every penny in my opinion.

Freestyler I'm curious. Do you mean that karate is not effective for self defense in the short term. For example the first year or so after you begin training. Or, do you mean that karate isn't effective for self-defense at all? If you could clarify before I answer that would be great. Thanks.

G95 I submit to you this then. If a person can do all 5 pinans or heians, what kata further along could they not do? I think kids are able to better handle the Naihanchi katas than say pinan yondan or pinan godan. Of course, this is just my opinion. As for older people, any kata technique can be modified to fit age or handicap. That's what I think makes karate so great. It is truly a personal art. No two people do it exactly the same way.

I agree with your reasoning concerning younger dan ranks. As a matter of fact I think your entire post was right on G95. Thanks for the response. aefibird - If I dropped any kata it would be the entire Heian/ Pinan series. They are relatively new and all of the techniques are taken from other "more difficult" kata. These kata were introduced by Itosu, Anko as a way to ease into kata training.

Go into it with an open mind. No expectations "grasshopper". *L* Good Luck!

I got the idea for this post from another that was posted recently. What do we as karateka mean when we say that we are learning a new kata? At what point can we say that we know a kata well? I know the movements and the bunkai to around 20 kata ( off the cuff estimate ). I can't really say that I "know" them though. I'm still learning them every time that I practice them. A new oyo or application will invariably present itself to me when I least expect it. I read posts from people that say they would get bored if they had to do only one kata for an indefinite period of time. Let me pose a question then. What would you do if your style or any style suddenly changed their way of thinking and limited your course of study to one or two or even four kata? Would you continue training or would you quit because you're bored? I could continue but I'll stop here and wait for your answers.

I'm going to play "devil's advocate" here. Why would you get bored doing only one kata? Have you mastered and totally understand every application for every form you know? I'm not talking about polishing moves for a competition. I'm talking about the essence of karate. This is what the author was seeking by working one form for 5 years. Most of the old "masters" only knew between one to four forms. Each form is supposed to encompass a past master's entire martial system. From researching masters such as Higaonna and Oyata to mention 2 of many, I've discovered that there is absolutely no wasted movement in a classical form. How could you even say you know one form after 5 years? It seems to me that you could spend a lifetime on a single form and never truly know it. After all isn't this what you all are alluding to by your comments?

Hi Shoju It just so happens that Soke Dave McNeill is a personal friend and teacher of mine. I know a lot about his organization. They run the Shotokan katas. The weapons system is great as I like the idea of being able to take my weapons wherever I go. I've had my cane on several plane flights and the only thing that ever happened was that I got a lift from the old folks cart at the airport. The weapons system teaches the cane, knife and oriental fan. Let me know if you'd like more info.

I actually shot myself in the foot with that last statement. Before anyone else says anything, some Shotokan schools may have adopted the use of traditional weapons. Everything has become a little mixed and muddled these days. The Wado Ryu and Uechi Ryu schools that I'm familiar with all have weapons programs of a traditional flavor. You just need to look around. You can probably find a Shotokan school that teaches weapons if you look for it. IF not, you sound a little disgruntled with your present style. Switch schools to one that has what you want. It's not a crime and what's a few more years to start again in a journey that can last a lifetime anyway? Good Luck

Shotokan doesn't utilize weapons because Shotokan was designed to be another sport for the mainland Japanese Phys. Ed. system. You wouldn't want the kiddies to be bringing weapons to school so this aspect of training wasn't included when Funakoshi started teaching Shotokan instead of Shorin Ryu. That's the condensed version *L*